Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious Nursing Times Awards 2025 for its work to launch digital improvements to waiting lists for children’s mental health services.

The Trust, which provides community and mental health services for all ages across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR), has been shortlisted in the Children’s Services category of the awards – which are akin to the healthcare Oscars.

LPT’s digital team for the families, young people, children, learning disability and autism services directorate (FYPCLDA) worked with the Trust’s CAMHS team (children and adolescent mental health services) to digitally review young people on the CAMHS waiting list, helping to free up clinical time and provide the right support to children, young people and their parents and carers.

Previously, young people could only attend a face-to-face appointment, where they would be asked a set of questions to assess any changes to their mental health while waiting for treatment. Following feedback from young people and their parents and carers, the teams now offer young people the chance to go through this process via a digital questionnaire. The questionnaire covers the same questions asked in the appointment, but also provides the young person with a personalised care plan to support them, while they await the next steps for treatment if needed. Face to face appointments are still available for those who want them.

Colin Cross, deputy director of FYPLCDA at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “I am really pleased that this work has been nominated for an award and I am proud of the teams who have helped to put this in place.

“We had a lot of feedback that parents and carers can struggle to take their child out of school for face-to-face assessments, which can result it in taking longer for them to access treatment and remain on waiting lists. This work has provided young people with an opportunity to access the right support based on their level of need – and access it sooner.

“Initial feedback from parents and carers has clearly shown the majority liked completing the digital form – and appreciate the personal care plan it provides. Since its launch, the forms have also helped to free up more than 250 hours of clinicians’ time, which has been used to help those who need treatment.”

The Nursing Times Awards celebrate excellence in nursing across the UK. Winners will be announced at a ceremony held on Wednesday 23 October 2025 in London.

For more information about the Nursing Times Awards, please visit: https://awards.nursingtimes.net/NTAW2025/